Donations to unregistered Bergen County-based Sandy charity sent to other groups

By KATHLEEN LYNN

Staff Writer |

The Record

More than $200,000 in donations that were made to an unregistered, Bergen County-based Superstorm Sandy charity have been redistributed to four legitimate charities, Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman said today.

The Hurricane Sandy Relief Foundation (HSRF) was an unregistered charity that was accused of misleading donors by the state Division of Law and Division of Consumer Affairs in February 2013. The fund, run by John Sandberg and Christina Terraccino of Sparta, used the address of Sandberg's parents in Wyckoff and later, a South Hackensack post office box, state officials said.

According to the state, Sandberg registered 110 website names related to Sandy relief on Oct. 26, three days before the storm made landfall in New Jersey. The foundation filed incorporation papers five days later.

After the storm, HSRF and its principals solicited donations and diverted donated funds into their personal accounts - spending the money on home heating oil, credit card bills, and restaurant meals, among other expenses - and falsely said that donations were tax-deductible, although HSRF did not have tax-exempt status, the state said.

In June 2013, HSRF agreed to a settlement under which a court-appointed administrator took control of HSRF to distribute the remaining donations and dissolve the organization. Under the settlement, Sandberg and Terraccino also are permanently barred from soliciting contributions in New Jersey for Superstorm Sandy relief and are barred for a minimum of two years from serving in a leadership position in any charitable organization in New Jersey.

According to state officials, a total of $225,000 has been distributed to four registered charities. O.C.E.A.N. Inc. of Toms River received $100,000. The group plans to build 12 single-family homes in Berkeley Township for rental to Sandy victims.

The FoodBank of Monmouth/Ocean Counties, of Neptune, received $50,000. The Alliance Center for Independence of Edison, in partnership with South Carolina-based Portlight Strategies, Inc., received $50,000 for post-Sandy projects helping individuals with disabilities.

Graybeards Ltd. of Rockaway, N.Y., received $25,000. This group was chosen because some contributions to HSRF were earmarked for Superstorm Sandy relief in New York.

The state said an additional $100,000 is being reviewed for distribution to Sandy-related charities.

Donations to unregistered Bergen County-based Sandy charity sent to other groups

By KATHLEEN LYNN

Staff Writer |

The Record

More than $200,000 in donations that were made to an unregistered, Bergen County-based Superstorm Sandy charity have been redistributed to four legitimate charities, Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman said today.

The Hurricane Sandy Relief Foundation (HSRF) was an unregistered charity that was accused of misleading donors by the state Division of Law and Division of Consumer Affairs in February 2013. The fund, run by John Sandberg and Christina Terraccino of Sparta, used the address of Sandberg's parents in Wyckoff and later, a South Hackensack post office box, state officials said.

According to the state, Sandberg registered 110 website names related to Sandy relief on Oct. 26, three days before the storm made landfall in New Jersey. The foundation filed incorporation papers five days later.

After the storm, HSRF and its principals solicited donations and diverted donated funds into their personal accounts - spending the money on home heating oil, credit card bills, and restaurant meals, among other expenses - and falsely said that donations were tax-deductible, although HSRF did not have tax-exempt status, the state said.

In June 2013, HSRF agreed to a settlement under which a court-appointed administrator took control of HSRF to distribute the remaining donations and dissolve the organization. Under the settlement, Sandberg and Terraccino also are permanently barred from soliciting contributions in New Jersey for Superstorm Sandy relief and are barred for a minimum of two years from serving in a leadership position in any charitable organization in New Jersey.

According to state officials, a total of $225,000 has been distributed to four registered charities. O.C.E.A.N. Inc. of Toms River received $100,000. The group plans to build 12 single-family homes in Berkeley Township for rental to Sandy victims.

The FoodBank of Monmouth/Ocean Counties, of Neptune, received $50,000. The Alliance Center for Independence of Edison, in partnership with South Carolina-based Portlight Strategies, Inc., received $50,000 for post-Sandy projects helping individuals with disabilities.

Graybeards Ltd. of Rockaway, N.Y., received $25,000. This group was chosen because some contributions to HSRF were earmarked for Superstorm Sandy relief in New York.

The state said an additional $100,000 is being reviewed for distribution to Sandy-related charities.